Carpet Archives - Best Carpet Values

May 22, 2020June 4, 2020

5 Steps to Cleaner Car Carpets

If you are anything like me, you have a car that gets a lot of use. I carry kids, dogs, and packages and every time someone gets in the car they manage to get the carpets a little dirty. Sometimes the people or animals that get in the car get it a lot dirty. When I go to clean the little bit of dirt I see it turns out to be much dirtier than I thought. Regular dirt I can vacuum up but occasionally I have to deal with some pretty tough stains. While dirt is easy to vacuum, the longer carpets are dirty, the harder to remove the stains. For example, organic matter (leaves and such) will rot encouraging mold and mildew growth, creating bad odors. Remember, if all else fails it’s not that hard to replace the floor mats in your vehicle.

Below are some simple steps how to clean car carpet and a few few supplies for tougher stains and for keeping your carpet clean.

Clean Car Carpet in Five Easy Steps

For a quick spot clean of some dirt a portable, battery operated vacuum will get the job done. If there is a lot of dirt then it’s recommended to pull out all the mats and use a more powerful shop vacuum. Periodically pull out the mats and get them a good shake or a beat them with your hand or a broom handle to get out some embedded dirt and dust. The more exposed the carpet the easier it is to see dirt and spots, clean, and dry.

Spot Cleaning

Stains should be removed as soon as you see them or as soon as possible. Stains that allowed to stay on carpet for a long time become more and more difficult to remove. Spot cleaning requires a few minutes of your time and a few supplies: carpet cleaner, a stiff brush, and clean cloths. You can try cleaning easy to remove stains with hot water, vinegar, and liquid soap but most stains are easier to remove with a commercial grade cleaner.

If you are using a purchased cleaner follow the specific directions for that product.

Hand Scrubbing

For general cleaning use upholstery cleaner, a stiff brush, and a damp towel or cloth. It is recommended that you test the cleaner over a small area to assume color fastness. Normally spot removers work something like brushing the cleaner into the carpet, then vacuum. Move to another section and repeat.

You may have to repeat, and you may want to spray clear water lightly onto the surface of the carpet, then vacuum out.

Steam Cleaning

If carpets are very dirty or have several stains it may be worth steam cleaning your car carpet. You can use commercially available steam cleaners or purchase small cleaners, like the little green cleaner pictured, that do a good job. you can use a steam cleaner. Follow the instructions on the steam cleaner and work small sections at a time, being careful not to saturate the carpet.

Air Drying

You need to remove as much water from the carpet as possible. Commercial carpet cleaners make this easy but you can also use a shop vac do get most of the water removed. All damp areas need time to dry to reduce bad odors and prevent mold and mildew. If the weather is nice and no rain is expected, leave the windows open for a few hours. you can also leave your vehicle in the garage with the windows down and fans blowing on the damp carpet to speed up evaporation.

Prevention

By taking preventive steps as soon as possible you can greatly reduce the amount of work required to clean your car carpet. Clean dirt as soon as you see it. Spot clean spots as soon as you see them. Use the original floor mats, or, better yet, buy aftermarket floor mats with better floor coverage. Carpet stain guard spray is worth your time and money, as it makes your carpets more stain resistant.

February 20, 2020June 4, 2020

Get Rid of Those Stubborn Stains in Your Carpet

Do you have some stains in your carpet you just can’t seem to get rid of? Most people do and the lighter the color of the carpet, the more stubborn the stains seem to be. Wouldn’t it be nice to have an inexpensive method to clean those stains that works? It definitely would.

Many of us have always thought that it took commercial cleaners to adequately clean carpet stains and if those didn’t work, the stain couldn’t be gotten out at all. Well, there is a homemade stain remover that works well on most carpet stains and deodorizes as well.

The recipe is simple. In fact, it is so simple, it is hard to believe how well it works. Simply mix a tablespoon of white vinegar and a tablespoon of liquid dish soap with two cups of warm water. Pour a little onto the stain, let it sit for a minute and then scrub it with a washcloth. Follow this up by blotting it with a towel to dry it. Repeat if necessary as some stains may need it done a few times, depending on what caused the stain and how old it is.

Usually, it does not take much scrubbing to get the stain out. One of the nice things about this recipe is that it removes pet odors as well as stains. Not only will the carpet look cleaner, it will also smell cleaner.

A variation of this recipe is to use equal amounts of dish soap, vinegar and hydrogen peroxide mixed together. This recipe and the first one should be tested in a small hidden area of the carpet first to make sure it will not harm the carpet. This is especially necessary with some types of carpet such as wool carpeting.

With these recipes, you will not only be able to clean stains from carpet but will also be able to clean stubborn stains in clothes. Having an inexpensive stain remover that works on both carpet and clothing is a great money saver, especially when it works as good as or better than the more expensive commercially made stain cleaners.

July 23, 2019June 4, 2020

Boat Carpet

While out on the lake this summer have you found that your boat needs new carpet? YES! We even have boat carpet!!

January 12, 2015February 13, 2015

Carpet with a Personality: What Does Yours Say about You?

The carpet you choose for your living spaces says a lot about you; so why not make sure you’re sending the right message?

You want your home to be comfortable, but also something uniquely personal. You can achieve this by paying particular attention to the carpets that you use, taking in to account not only colors, but styles and materials.

Color

Color can represent your personality, and influence mood. Different colors suit different living spaces.

Take a deep crimson as an example. This color is known to stimulate conversation. A crimson colored carpet in a family sitting room can make it the perfect place to entertain, or to relax and bond with your family. Other colors, like light pastel blues and greens, can improve productivity, so they could be the perfect choices for home offices.

Try to find a color that represents you, but also one that fits the room and the furnishings. Don’t be afraid to go for neutral shades in rooms where the focus may be on artwork, designer sofas, or even an entertainment center. The carpet doesn’t always need to set the mood, but sometimes will simply complement the space you’ve already created.

Cut

The materials you choose for your carpet will determine comfort as well as durability. All-wool solutions may be expensive compared with synthetic carpet fibers, but for many they are the most comfortable and luxurious carpets. However the modern technology used to produce synthetic carpets is well advanced, so it’s still possible to get a luxurious feel from synthetic.

The cut, or pile height, will also make a difference to how your carpet feels for you, your family, and your guests. High pile carpet is extremely luxurious underfoot, but it’s important to understand that it can retain dirt and debris, and is notoriously hard to clean. Try to strike a balance between comfort and practicality, especially in high traffic areas.

Carpet Patterns

When you already know that your carpet is going to be a standout room feature, carpet patterns may be appropriate. Patterned carpet can be as subtle, or as dramatic as you want it to be. As with color, keep in mind that the pattern can potentially detract from the rest of your décor. You can also use patterns to change how big or small a room feels. Circular carpet patterns can make the floor space feel more compact, whereas pin striping can make a room feel larger.

Choosing your carpets is not as mundane as most would assume, and you can be just as creative as you would for your curtains, wallpaper, and even your furnishings. Remember to consider your own personality, the purpose of the room you’re carpeting, and try to strike a balance between practicality, comfort, and style.

The right carpet choices will help you to design a space you love, that can be enjoyed for almost the lifetime of your home.

October 3, 2014

Environmentally Friendly Carpets

The entire world is claiming a real concern for the world around them today, with recycling no longer just a buzz word, but a way of life.

We’re all recycling household goods, working to save energy, and even using the alternative energy saving light bulbs in order to green up our day to day living. We turn our air conditioner up and our heater down in an effort to do more for the world around us and to lower our footprint on the earth.

It has been a little more difficult to find ways to green up our choices for household appliances and interior design goods. For the interior of the home, upholstery, carpeting and rugs that were recycled material were not, until very recently, what you might call stylish or chic. In fact they simply were not attractive and many did not wear well or last long enough to be a good value.

Today’s carpets are different.

Eco-friendly products are available from nearly every company that makes carpet. Many carpets and carpet tiles state that they are post-consumer content and most are attractive, wear well and are easy to clean and easy to care for.

Eco-friendly carpets have arrived.

The vast shift in the way in which consumers select goods and the way in which companies manufacture them is nothing if not good for the world around us.

Earth friendly interiors no longer have to be shabby or last year’s carpet to be considered green living interiors. In fact, if you haven’t replaced your carpet lately or it isn’t made from natural fibers, the facts are, sadly that your household may not be the most environmentally friendly or even the safest place to live.

Many of the older carpets that are in our homes contain a lot of chemicals or are man made fibers that are not only less healthy for the environment, but may be less healthy for our homes. In the event of a home fire, they can actually give off toxic chemicals, making them quite dangerous to keep. If you’ve not taken a look at new , earth friendly carpeting or it’s been a while since you’ve replaced yours, now may be a good time to take a look at what’s available to you. The carpet world is changing dramatically and offering more environmentally friendly interiors to everyone.

August 14, 2014August 20, 2014

Carpet – A Little History

A carpeted home is something we take for granted. Step back in time to the early 1800s and the average home would have been very different. Unfinished hardwood floors were not uncommon in the United States, and a rug laid out in a sitting room was something of a luxury for the average family. Even affluent families would have found it hard to afford carpeting in all of their rooms.

This all changed with the industrial revolution and automated looms. Before the introduction of mechanized looms, carpets were hand woven in methods similar to those used for Persian and Oriental rugs to this day. Just as these rugs command a price premium today, the case was the same 200 years ago.

1791 was an important year in the history of carpets as Philadelphia became home to the first woven carpet mill. By the early 1800s there were mills popping up all around New England providing more cost effective carpeting solutions for a growing middle class.

Some of the early players in the modern carpet industry still have a legacy in the industry today. Bigelow carpets are known throughout America as some of the most durable, attractive, and cost effective flooring options. Erastus Bigelow invented a powered loom in the early 1800s that would go on to triple productivity in carpet production by the 1850. Bigelow was such a prolific inventor that he went on to patent 45 technologies relating to carpet and textile manufacture, always in pursuit of the most efficient methods that would produce quality carpets. Today his name lives on through the Bigelow carpet lines.

As manufacturing technologies advanced and new materials came, Americans witnessed the advent of affordable carpets, and you will find carpet in almost every home in the country today. Carpets are great for insulation, they reduce energy costs, and most importantly they create a timeless, elegant, and comfortable look which can transform a house in to a true home to be proud of.

Today we have a variety of cut pile design carpets, we predominantly use long lasting nylon instead of wool, we can make use of special backing that increases durability and comfort, and there are even options for advanced treatments like Scotchgard which help to resist stains and odor. We even have outdoor carpets that resist UV rays, moisture, and bacteria.

Next time you’re looking for carpets for use in remodeling or a new home, take a moment to consider the history that helped bring you the hi-tech carpets of today. Names like Bigelow and Mohawk are examples of the pioneers that shaped the industry, and you’ll still find their names on some of the most trusted carpets in America.

July 24, 2014

How to Extend the Life of Your Carpet

Good carpeting is not inexpensive and it is a large investment of both time and money. First there is the time it takes to search through the various choices until you find the carpeting that best suits your needs, budget, and taste. After paying for the carpet and installation, you still have to schedule the day of installation and wait some more. All in all it is not only expensive, but time consuming as well and it is a procedure that no one wants to repeat unless it is strictly necessary. This is one reason that everyone should know how to properly maintain and care for their carpets. Proper maintenance will keep the carpet looking its best for as long as possible, but many people don’t know that caring properly for their carpets will actually extend its life. Just a few relatively simple tips can prevent the need for replacing the carpet in the near future.

The most effective, as well as the easiest, way to ensure that your carpet lasts as long as it should is to keep it as clean as possible. Don’t walk on the carpet with the same shoes that you wear outdoors. Aside from the obvious issue of muddy footprints, whether your shoes look clean or not, there is always dust, sand, or other debris lurking on the soles of your shoes. Wearing house shoes or slippers is the best option when it comes to keeping your carpet clean. Even bare feet can leave behind oil that will get into the carpet and act like a magnet to attract dust and dirt particles.

Vacuuming on a regular basis is another thing that will lengthen the life of carpets. Even if you don’t wear shoes on the carpeting, dust particles float through the air and debris finds its way into the fibers of your carpeting. This is especially true if you have pets. Vacuuming at least every two days will keep the worst of these things from becoming embedded in the carpet. Dirt, dust, and other particles (no matter how small) are abrasive. As they embed themselves into the carpet fiber they damage the integrity and cause the fibers to break, fray, or mat down and walking on the carpet hastens the process. This also involves making sure that your vacuum is in good working order. No matter how often you vacuum, if the machine isn’t functioning properly, it can’t get the carpet clean.